Mobile terminal and method of selecting lock function

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal and a method of selecting a lock function thereof are provided. The method of selecting a lock function of a mobile terminal having a touch screen includes: measuring, when at least one touch occurs on the touch screen, at least one of a pressure, a current, and a capacitance of an area of the touch screen in which the touch occurs; and selecting, if at least one of the measured pressure, current, and capacitance is greater than or equal to a preset value, a lock function. Thus, by touching the touch screen in such a manner that a high current or capacitance may be measured in a specific area of the mobile terminal, a user can easily perform a desired function, thereby improving user convenience.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to an application entitled“PORTABLE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING ORDER THEREOF” filed in theKorean Intellectual Property Office on Aug. 31, 2007 and assigned SerialNo. 2007-0088621, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method ofselecting a lock function thereof and, more particularly, to a mobileterminal and a method of selecting a lock function thereof in which, ifa measured pressure, current, or capacitance of an area of a touchscreen in which a touch occurs is greater than or equal to a presetvalue, a lock function is selected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, a touch screen of a terminal provides a user interfacethrough which a user can input information or an instruction to theterminal through a touch. The touch screen is applied to various mobileterminals such as a mobile phone, smart phone, palmtop computer, andpersonal digital assistant (PDA). Further, nowadays, as a size andweight of a terminal decrease, a size and weight of a touch screen arealso decreasing.

Unlike a conventional push button type key input unit, a mobile terminalhaving a touch screen recognizes even a slight pressure as a touchinput. However, there is a problem that a key may thereby beunintentionally input.

In order to select a lock function, which is a function that preventsfurther functions from being selected, or a silent mode (that is, a modein which no sound is emitted) function of the mobile terminal, a usersearches for and selects the function among menus provided in the mobileterminal. Therefore, in order to select a desired function, the usermust input a key several times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is aprimary object to provide a mobile terminal and a method of selecting alock function thereof in which, if a measured pressure, current, orcapacitance of an area of a touch screen in which a touch occurs isgreater than or equal to a preset value, a lock function is selected.

The present invention further provides a mobile terminal and a method ofselecting a lock function thereof in which, if a strong current orcapacitance is measured in a partial area of a touch screen, if acurrent or capacitance is simultaneously measured in several areas ofthe touch screen, or if a current or capacitance is measured within awide area of the touch screen, a lock function is selected.

The present invention further provides a mobile terminal and a method ofselecting a lock function thereof, whereby if a user's face and a touchscreen contact each other in a communication mode, a lock function ofthe mobile terminal is selected.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method ofselecting a lock function of a mobile terminal having a touch screenincludes: measuring, when at least one touch occurs on the touch screen,at least one of a pressure, a current, and a capacitance of an area ofthe touch screen in which the touch occurs; and selecting, if at leastone of the measured pressure, current, and capacitance is greater thanor equal to a preset value, a lock function.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a mobileterminal includes: a touch screen; a measurement unit for measuring,when at least one touch occurs on the touch screen, at least one of apressure, a current, and a capacitance of an area of the touch screen inwhich the touch occurs; and a controller for selecting, if at least oneof the measured pressure, current, and capacitance is greater than orequal to a set value, a lock function.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, itmay be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases“associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivativesthereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with,contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, becommunicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximateto, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and theterm “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controlsat least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware,firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same.It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particularcontroller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally orremotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are providedthroughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the artshould understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitionsapply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words andphrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobileterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selecting a lock functionof a mobile terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of a touch screen in the method ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating a process of measuring a detectedcurrent or capacitance in a partial area of a touch screen in the methodof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4B illustrates an example of a touch screen in which a strong touchby the user occurs in a partial area of the touch screen;

FIG. 5A is a flowchart illustrating a process of measuring a detectedcurrent or capacitance in several areas of a touch screen andcalculating a sum of the measured currents or capacitances in the methodof FIG. 2;

FIG. 5B illustrates an example of a touch screen in which a touch by theuser occurs in several areas of the touch screen simultaneously;

FIG. 6A is a flowchart illustrating a process of measuring a detectedcurrent or capacitance within a wide area of a touch screen andcalculating a sum of the measured currents or capacitances in the methodof FIG. 2;

FIG. 6B illustrates an example of a touch screen in which a touch by theuser occurs in a wide area of the touch screen; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selecting a lock functionin a communication mode of a mobile terminal according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 7, discussed below, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged mobile terminal.

A mobile terminal according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has a touch screen and may be any information communicationappliance or multimedia appliance, such as a mobile terminal, mobilephone, wired/wireless phone, portable multimedia player (PMP), PDA,smart phone, notebook, and PC, and applications thereof.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobileterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile terminal includes a radio frequency (RF)unit 101, a key input unit 103, a memory unit 105, a touch screen 107,and a controller 113.

The RF unit 101 performs a wireless communication function of the mobileterminal. The RF unit 101 includes an RF transmitter for up-converting afrequency of a signal to be transmitted and amplifying the signal, andan RF receiver for low-noise amplifying a received signal anddown-converting a frequency of the signal. The RF unit 101 may performcommunication with another mobile terminal.

The key input unit 103 is used for inputting a user's manipulationsignal for controlling operation of the mobile terminal. The key inputunit 103 generates a manipulation signal, such as inputting, searchingfor, and calling a phone number of a mobile terminal of another party,and terminating a call with another mobile terminal, in order to performcommunication.

The memory unit 105 stores programs and information necessary foroperation of the mobile terminal. The memory unit 105 stores variousfunctions provided for in the mobile terminal. The memory unit 105 alsostores a preset value of current or capacitance for comparing, when atouch occurs on the touch screen 107, with a current or capacitance ofan area where the touch occurs measured by the measurement unit 115.Here, the preset value may be preset by the provider of the mobileterminal, or may be set and stored by the user.

The touch screen 107 includes a display unit 109 and a touch panel 111.The display unit 109 displays a state of the mobile terminal. Thedisplay unit 109 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, includingan LCD controller, memory for storing display data, and LCD displayelement. The touch panel 111 is mounted on a surface of the display unit109 and includes a touch detection unit and a signal converter. When atouch occurs on the touch panel 111, the touch detection unit detects achange in a value of a physical characteristic and thereby detectsoccurrence of the touch. Further, the signal converter converts thechange of the physical characteristic to a touch signal. That is, thetouch detection unit measures a pressure generated by a touch, detects apressure generated by a touch and measures a current or capacitancegenerated thereby, or measures a current or capacitance generated bymultiple touches or by a touch in a wide area of the touch panel 111.

When a pressure, current, or capacitance generated by the occurrence ofa touch is greater than or equal to a preset value, the touch screen 107displays selection of a preset function. For example, when the presetfunction is a lock function, the touch screen 107 displays selection ofthe lock function of the mobile terminal, and when the preset functionis a silent mode function, the touch screen 107 displays selection ofthe silent mode function of the mobile terminal. The present exemplaryembodiment illustrates two functions; however, the present invention isnot limited thereto.

The controller 113 controls general operations of the mobile terminal.The controller 113 controls selection of a function according to thepresent exemplary embodiment. The controller 113 includes a measurementunit 115. When a touch occurs on the touch screen 107, the controller113 instructs the measurement unit 115 to measure a pressure, current,or capacitance of an area in which the touch occurs. Here, themeasurement unit 115 includes, for example, a current measurement unitfor measuring current or a capacitance measurement unit for measuringcapacitance.

An area in which a touch occurs may be a partial area of the touchscreen 107 (see FIG. 4B), several areas of the touch screen 107 (seeFIG. 5B), or a wide area of the touch screen 107 (see FIG. 6B). When theuser contacts the touch screen 107 with a finger or a stylus to touchthe touch screen, a partial area indicates a single touched area.Several areas indicate several partial areas (i.e., several touchedareas). The wide area indicates a case where more than half of an entirearea of the touch screen 107 is a touched area. However, in otherembodiments, the area in which a touch occurs is not limited to apartial area, several areas, and a wide area.

A touch in the partial area occurs when a user touches the touch screen107 with a strong pressure using a finger or stylus. That is, the touchoccurs when the user touches the partial area of the touch screen 107with a strong pressure for a predetermined time period using a finger orstylus. In this case, the measurement unit 115 measures a current orcapacitance according to a pressure detected by the touch detectionunit.

A touch in several areas occurs when the user simultaneously touches thetouch screen 107 using more than one finger. In this case, themeasurement unit 115 measures a current or capacitance of each area inwhich a touch occurs and calculates the sum of the measured currents orcapacitances.

A touch in a wide area occurs when the user simultaneously touches awide area using, for example, a palm of the hand, or the face, or whenthe user places the mobile terminal such that the touch screen 107contacts a work surface (for example, a table). In this case, themeasurement unit 115 measures a current or capacitance at measuringpoints within an area in which a touch occurs and calculates the sum ofthe measured currents or capacitances.

The controller 113 determines whether a current or capacitance measuredby the measurement unit 115 is greater than or equal to a preset valuestored in the memory unit 105. If a current or capacitance measured bythe measurement unit 115 is greater than or equal to a preset valuestored in the memory unit 105, the controller 113 selects a presetfunction. Here, the preset function may be a lock function or a silentmode function. When the mobile terminal is in a communication mode, if atouch occurs on the touch screen 107 and a current or capacitancemeasured by the measurement unit 115 is greater than or equal to apreset value, the controller 113 selects a preset function of the mobileterminal. When a partial area of the touch screen 107 is touched by theuser with a strong pressure, when a plurality of fingers simultaneouslytouch the touch screen 107, when a palm or a face touches the touchscreen 107, or when the touch screen 107 of the mobile terminal contactsa surface (for example, a table), the controller 113 selects a presetfunction.

As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the measurementunit 115 for measuring a current or capacitance of an area on the touchscreen 107 in which a touch occurs, whereby a preset function isselected, is included in the controller 113; however, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. The measurement unit 115 may beseparated from the controller 113 and perform the above measurementfunctions. Further, the measurement unit 115 may measure a temperatureor a voltage, as well as, or instead of, measuring a current orcapacitance.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selecting a function of amobile terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of a touch screen in themethod of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 113 determines whether a touchoccurs on the touch screen 107 (S201). This step can be performed in anymode (for example, a communication mode, a standby mode, or a musicreproducing mode) of a mobile terminal.

If a touch occurs on the touch screen 107, the controller 113 determinesan area in which a touch occurs and instructs the measurement unit 115to measure a current or capacitance generated in the area (S203).

The present embodiment exemplifies that the measurement unit 115measures a current or capacitance of the touch occurrence area; however,the present invention is not limited thereto.

The controller 113 determines whether the current or capacitancemeasured by the measurement unit 115 is greater than or equal to apreset value stored in the memory unit 105 (S205). That is, thecontroller 113 determines whether a current or capacitance greater thanor equal to the preset value is generated by a touch occurring in thetouch screen 107. The preset value is set such that a current orcapacitance generated when a partial area of the touch screen 107 isstrongly touched, when touches occur simultaneously in a plurality ofareas, or when a touch occurs in a wide area, is greater than or equalto the preset value.

If the current or capacitance measured by the measurement unit 115 isgreater than or equal to a preset value stored in the memory unit 105,the controller 113 selects a preset function (S207). Here, the presetfunction may be a lock function or a silent mode function.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a touch screen in which a lockfunction is selected. As shown in FIG. 3A, when a touch occurs on thetouch screen 107 and the current or capacitance of the area in which thetouch occurs is greater than or equal to a preset value, the controller113 selects a lock function of the mobile terminal.

If the current or capacitance measured by the measurement unit 115 isless than a preset value stored in the memory unit 105 at step S205, thecontroller 113 selects a corresponding function (S209). For example, ifthe user touches the touch screen 107 such that the touch does notgenerate a strong current or capacitance (for example, by performing agentle touch), the user can select a desired function. In the exampleshown in FIG. 3B, the user can select a desired function by gentlytouching a shortcut 301 displayed in a standby mode.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating a process of measuring the detectedcurrent or capacitance in a partial area of a touch screen at step S203in the method of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the controller 113 detects a pressure in a partialarea of the touch screen 107 (S401).

FIG. 4B illustrates an example of the touch screen 107 in which a strongtouch by the user occurs in a partial area of the touch screen 107.

As shown in FIG. 4B, when the user strongly touches a partial area 405,the touch detection unit detects a pressure. Here, the user touches thepartial area 405 of the touch screen 107 with a strong pressure using afinger.

The controller 113 instructs the measurement unit 115 to measure thedetected pressure (S403). The controller 113 instructs the measurementunit 115 to measure a current or capacitance generated by the detectedpressure (S403), and the process returns to step S205.

FIG. 5A is a flowchart illustrating a process of measuring a detectedcurrent or capacitance in several areas of a touch screen andcalculating the sum of the measured currents or capacitances at stepS203 in the method of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the controller 113 detects a current orcapacitance generated in several areas of the touch screen 107 (S501).

FIG. 5B illustrates an example of the touch screen 107 in which a touchby the user occurs in several areas of the touch screen 107simultaneously.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the user may simultaneously touch several areas505. That is, the user may simultaneously touch the touch screen 107with several fingers.

The controller 113 instructs the measurement unit 115 to measure thedetected current or capacitance (S503). The measurement unit 115measures a current or capacitance of each area 505 in which a touchoccurs and calculates the sum of the measured currents or capacitances.The controller 113 instructs the measurement unit 115 to measure thecurrent or capacitance, and the process returns to steps S205.

Instead of measuring a current or capacitance directly, the touchdetection unit may simultaneously detect a pressure generated in severalareas of the touch screen 107, and the measurement unit 115 measures acurrent or capacitance generated by the pressure.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart illustrating a process of measuring a detectedcurrent or capacitance within a wide area of a touch screen andcalculating a sum of the measured currents or capacitances at step S203in the method of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the controller 113 detects a current orcapacitance generated in a wide area of the touch screen 107 (S601).

FIG. 6B illustrates an example of the touch screen 107 in which a touchby the user occurs in a wide area of the touch screen 107.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the user may simultaneously touch a wide area 605.This process may be performed when the user contacts the touch screen107 using a palm or when the touch screen 107 contacts a face in acommunication mode. The process may also be performed by placing themobile terminal such that the touch screen 107 contacts a surface (forexample, a table).

The controller 113 instructs the measurement unit 115 to measure thedetected current or capacitance and to calculate the sum of the measuredcurrents or capacitances (S603).

The measurement unit 115 measures all currents or capacitances detectedat all measuring points within an area 605 in which a touch occurs andcalculates the sum of the measured currents or capacitances. The processthen returns to step S205, as described above. Instead of measuring acurrent or capacitance directly, the touch detection unit may detect apressure occurring within a wide area of the touch screen 107, and themeasurement unit 115 measures a current or capacitance generated by thepressure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selecting a lock functionin a communication mode of a mobile terminal according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the mobile terminal is in a communication mode(S701), the controller 113 determines whether a touch occurs on thetouch screen 107 (S703).

If a touch occurs on the touch screen 107, the controller 113 detects acurrent or capacitance generated in a wide area of the touch screen 107(S705). Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, when a touch occurs in a wide areaof the touch screen 107, the controller 113 detects the touch. Forexample, when the mobile terminal is in a communication mode, a user'sface may be touched on the touch screen 107.

The controller 113 instructs the measurement unit 115 to measure acurrent or capacitance generated at measuring points within the widearea in which the touch occurs and calculates the sum of the measuredcurrents or capacitances (S707).

The controller 113 determines whether the current or capacitancemeasured by the measurement unit 115 is greater than or equal to apreset value stored in the memory unit 105 (S709).

When a touch occurs in a wide area (i.e., in more than a half of anentire area of the touch screen 107) at step S705, the measured currentor capacitance may be greater than or equal to a preset value.

If the measured current or capacitance is greater than or equal to apreset value, the controller 113 selects and performs a lock function ofthe mobile terminal (S711). Here, the preset function is a lockfunction; however, the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a screen in which a lock function isselected and performed.

The controller 113 determines whether communication is terminated(S713). If communication is terminated, the controller 113 releaseslocking of the mobile terminal (S719) and terminates communication.

If communication is not terminated at step S713, the controller 113determines whether occurrence of a touch is released (S715). When a lockfunction of the mobile terminal is selected by touching a face on thetouch screen 107 while performing communication with the mobileterminal, the user can release a lock function thereof by releasing thetouch in order to select another function of the mobile terminal. Forexample, the user can transmit a message or search for a phone numberwhile performing communication with the mobile terminal.

If occurrence of a touch is released, the controller 113 determineswhether a released time period is greater than or equal to a preset timeperiod (S717). The user may release a touch in order to select anotherfunction while performing communication. Therefore, the controller 113determines whether a release time period is greater than or equal to apreset period in order to recognize release of a touch for performing aspecific function.

If a release time period is greater than or equal to a preset period,the controller 113 releases locking of the mobile terminal (S719).

In the present exemplary embodiment, when a touch occurs, by measuring acurrent or capacitance generated in a touch screen though a measurementunit, a preset function is selected; however, the present invention isnot limited thereto.

In the present exemplary embodiment, when a touch occurs, a current orcapacitance of an area in which the touch occurs is measured; however,the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, by measuringa temperature, or a voltage of an area in which a touch occurs anddetermining whether the measured value is greater than or equal to apreset value, a preset function can be selected.

As described above, according to the present invention, when a highcurrent or capacitance is measured in a specific area (for example, apartial area, several areas, or a wide area) of a mobile terminal, byselecting a preset function (for example, a lock function or a silentmode function), a user can easily perform a desired function of a mobileterminal, and thus user convenience can be improved.

When a user touches by strongly pressing a partial area of a touchscreen using a finger, simultaneously touches several areas of a touchscreen, or touches a wide area by using a palm or by placing the mobileterminal such that the touch screen contacts a surface (for example, atable), the user can easily select a desired function (for example, alock function or a silent mode function) of the mobile terminal.

Particularly, when the mobile terminal is in a communication mode, ifthe user's face and the touch screen of the mobile terminal contact eachother, a touch occurs in a wide area of the touch screen, and thus acurrent or capacitance higher than a preset value is detected, and anerroneous operation can be prevented by locking the mobile terminalwhile communicating with the mobile terminal.

Further, when the user is in a meeting or when the mobile terminal is ina music reproducing mode, by simply placing the mobile terminal suchthat the touch screen contacts a surface (for example, a table), a modeof the mobile terminal can be changed to a locking mode or a silent modeand thus user convenience can be improved.

Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplaryembodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A method of selecting a lock function of a mobile terminal having atouch screen, comprising: measuring, when at least one touch occurs onthe touch screen, at least one of a pressure, a current, and acapacitance of an area of the touch screen in which the touch occurs;and selecting, if at least one of the measured pressure, current, andcapacitance is greater than or equal to a preset value, a lock function.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing a mode of themobile terminal to a silent mode after selecting the lock function. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein measuring at least one of a pressure, acurrent, and a capacitance of an area of the touch screen in which thetouch occurs comprises detecting a pressure of an area of the touchscreen in which the touch occurs and measuring at least one of a currentand a capacitance according to the detected pressure.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein measuring at least one of a pressure, a current, and acapacitance of an area of the touch screen in which the touch occurscomprises measuring at least one of a current and a capacitance of eachof a plurality of areas of the touch screen in which a touch occurs andcalculating at least one of the sum of the measured currents and the sumof the measured capacitances.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinmeasuring at least one of a pressure, a current, and a capacitance of anarea of the touch screen in which the touch occurs comprises measuringat least one of a current and a capacitance at a plurality of measuringpoints within a wide area of the touch screen in which the touch occursand calculating at least one of the sum of the measured currents and thesum of the measured capacitances.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinmeasuring at least one of a pressure, a current, and a capacitance of anarea of the touch screen in which the touch occurs is performed when themobile terminal is in a communication mode.
 7. The method of claim 6,further comprising displaying, when the mobile terminal is in thecommunication mode, if at least one of the measured pressure, current,and capacitance is less than or equal to a preset value, available menuson the touch screen.
 8. A mobile terminal comprising: a touch screen; ameasurement unit for measuring, when at least one touch occurs on thetouch screen, at least one of a pressure, a current, and a capacitanceof an area of the touch screen in which the touch occurs; and acontroller for selecting, if at least one of the measured pressure,current, and capacitance is greater than or equal to a set value, a lockfunction.
 9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the controllerchanges a mode of the mobile terminal to a silent mode after selectingthe lock function.
 10. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein themeasurement unit detects a pressure of an area of the touch screen inwhich the touch occurs and measures at least one of a current and acapacitance according to the detected pressure.
 11. The mobile terminalof claim 8, wherein the measurement unit measures at least one of acurrent and a capacitance of each of plurality of areas of the touchscreen in which a touch occurs and calculates at least one of the sum ofthe measured currents and the sum of the measured capacitances.
 12. Themobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the measurement unit measures atleast one of a current and a capacitance at a plurality of measuringpoints within a wide area of the touch screen in which the touch occursand calculates at least one of the sum of the measured currents and thesum of the measured capacitances.
 13. The mobile terminal of claim 8,further comprising a radio frequency (RF) unit for performing wirelesscommunication with another terminal, wherein, when the mobile terminalis in a communication mode using the RF unit, the controller drives themeasurement unit.
 14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein thecontroller instructs the touch screen to display, if at least one of themeasured pressure, current, and capacitance is less than or equal to apreset value in a communication mode, available menus on the touchscreen.
 15. A method of selecting a preset function of a mobile terminalhaving a touch screen, comprising: measuring, when at least one touchoccurs on the touch screen, at least one of a pressure, a current, and acapacitance of an area of the touch screen in which the touch occurs;and initiating, if at least one of the measured pressure, current, andcapacitance is greater than or equal to a preset value, the presetfunction.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the preset function is alock function.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising changing amode of the mobile terminal to a silent mode after initiating the presetfunction.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein measuring at least one ofa pressure, a current, and a capacitance of an area of the touch screenin which the touch occurs comprises detecting a pressure of an area ofthe touch screen in which the touch occurs and measuring at least one ofa current and a capacitance according to the detected pressure.
 19. Themethod of claim 15, wherein measuring at least one of a pressure, acurrent, and a capacitance of an area of the touch screen in which thetouch occurs comprises measuring at least one of a current and acapacitance of each of a plurality of areas of the touch screen in whicha touch occurs and calculating at least one of the sum of the measuredcurrents and the sum of the measured capacitances.
 20. The method ofclaim 15, wherein measuring at least one of a pressure, a current, and acapacitance of an area of the touch screen in which the touch occurscomprises measuring at least one of a current and a capacitance at aplurality of measuring points within a wide area of the touch screen inwhich the touch occurs and calculating at least one of the sum of themeasured currents and the sum of the measured capacitances.